Pearls of the Deep (1965)

Set against the backdrop of a repressed Czechoslovakia, five non-related vignettes are presented, each showcasing the need and want for human connection. In "Mr. Baltazar's Death", a middle... See full summary »

Directors:

Vera Chytilová, Jaromil Jires

Writers:

Vera Chytilová (segment), Bohumil Hrabal (short stories)

Stars:

Pavla Marsálková, Ferdinand Kruta, Alois Vachek

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pavla Marsálková	...	Matka (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")
Ferdinand Kruta	...	Otec (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")
Alois Vachek	...	Mrzák (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")
Emil Iserle	...	Stryc (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")
Miroslav Nohýnek	...	Chlapec (segment "smrt pana baltazara")
Vlasta Spánková	...	Dívka (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")
Jirí Menzel	...	Bicyclist (segment "Smrt pana Baltazara")
Milos Ctrnacty	...	Zpevák (segment "Podvodníci")
Frantisek Havel	...	Novinár (segment "Podvodníci")
Josef Hejl	...	Holic (segment "Podvodníci")
Jan Vasák	...	Zrizenec (segment "Podvodníci")
Jirí Reichl	...	Boy with fracture (segment "Podvodníci")
Josefa Pechlatová	...	Matka (segment "Dum radosti")
Václav Zák	...	Malír (segment "Dum radosti")
Ivan Vyskocil	...	Uredník (segment "Dum radosti")

Storyline

Set against the backdrop of a repressed Czechoslovakia, five non-related vignettes are presented, each showcasing the need and want for human connection. In "Mr. Baltazar's Death", a middle aged couple who are experts at mechanics, travel to a motorcycle race where they congregate with the masses on the section of the course where historically there has been the most action of the destructive kind. In "Imposters", two elderly hospital patients talk about their past professional glories as a journalist and light opera star respectively. Each man wants to hear about the other more than tell his own story for good reason. In "The House of Joy", two national insurance agents believe they have an easy sale when they visit an elderly goat farmer/amateur painter, who uses whatever surface as his canvass, and paints his life and his dreams. But the sale will not be as easy as the men first believe it will be. In "The Restaurant the World", a wedding reception is taking place in one part of a ...

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Plot Keywords:

anthology film | portmanteau film | multiple directors | collection of short films | collective filmmaking | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia

Language:

Czech Romany English

Release Date:

7 January 1966 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

Pearls on the Ground

Filming Locations:

Automat Svet, Liben, Prague, Czech Republic

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmové studio Barrandov

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color (segment)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Fanfan la Tulipe (1952)

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Soundtracks

Az ráno
Czech Traditional

User Reviews

Mediocre portmanteau

Portmanteau or omnibus films were really popular for the auteurs of the 1960s, but none of them have really lasted in the cinematic memory, have they? There's only one that I've seen that I've loved, Spirits of the Dead, the Edgar Allen Poe film by Vadim, Malle and Fellini. Sure, there are some really good segments that have been made. Pasolini's La Ricotta from Rogopag is especially excellent. But the way these films can vary in quality is what makes them generally so forgettable. Pearls of the Deep, a portmanteau from the Czech New Wave, unfortunately only varies from decent to terrible. Two segments are watchable, those by Menzel and Jires. Jires' is the best of the bunch, about a young man who falls for a gypsy girl, but even it is only tolerable. Chytilová's segment was boring at first, but then she creates this visually lovely scene where a bride in her flowing veil walks around in slow motion. It's the best sequence in the entire film, even if the rest of this short is forgettable. The shorts by Nemec and Schorm are rather pointless. All in all, worth skipping, especially as the Facets DVD is, as is usual for them, godawful.